Columbus Blue Jackets Update
Coming into this 2010-2011 season, no one was quite sure what to make of the Blue Jackets. They have had 1 playoff birth in the past 4 seasons, and their lonely appearance was a poor showing in which they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings.
To add on to an unimpressive resume, the Blue Jackets also changed General Managers this off season. Some saw this as a good sign, others saw the team as unstable and things were starting to unfold.
When GM Pete Simpson took the podium for the first time, he said all the right things and what was expected to be said coming from a rookie GM. What was very unexpected was that he announced a trade that day, a quite large scale deal in that. He sent out top prospect Nikita Filatov and a 2nd round pick in the upcoming draft, for proven and hard working center Ryan Kesler, and a 6th round pick in the upcoming draft. This trade, says Simpson, gives the Blue Jackets that number one center that they have lacked over the course of the past few seasons.
The Blue Jackets season so far has been nothing short of wonderful. They currently sit atop the Western Conference, and have no intent to look back. Solid play from all 4 lines of forwards, stalwart defending, and reassuring goaltending are all apart of the recipe for success in Columbus.
A young Steve Mason has shown vast improvement from last season, and looks to continue to build off of his Calder trophy from the 08-09 season. The Blue Jackets have been in some really tight games this season, and ones that could have gone either way, but with Mason's strong play, the Blue Jackets have been able to pull away in those games.
Of course, the Blue Jackets needed strong play from their top offensive line, and so far they have been incredible. Through 10 games, Rick Nash has 4 goals, 6 assists for 10 points. While Huselius has 5 goals, 5 assists for 10 points, and Ryan Kesler has 9 goals, 2 assists for 11 points.
The biggest story for Columbus this season, has been
Antoine Vermette. Coming into training camp, Vermette was the shoe-in for the number one center role, but after Simpson brought in Kesler, Vermette was demoted to the second line. Since his demotion, Vermette has been playing inspired hockey, and has really clicked with his line mates Brassard and Voracek. So far this season, Vermette has 7 goals and 6 assists for a total of 13 points, a team high, and good for (tied for) third in the entire league.
If Vermette continues at this pace, he will be in line for a career year. Perhaps the Blue Jackets gave Antoine too much pressure on the first line, and he is better suited as a second line guy. Whatever the reason, Vermette is putting up the points and Columbus is putting up the wins.
For Columbus to continue on this tear, they will need Mason to continue his strong play, and their offense needs to stay hot. The one variable that could affect them, and one that affects every team is the injury bug. So many teams we have seen teams go on a roll, only to lose a player to injury, and there goes all their momentum.
Hopefully though, for the Blue Jackets sake, they can stay healthy, and continue to play great hockey.
04-17-2011, 11:57 AM
